Golf To Close Fall Slate With Wyoming Cowgirl Desert Intercollegiate

Oct 10, 2013

The Eastern Washington women's golf team is traveling to Palm Desert, Calif. this weekend to compete in their fourth and final tournament of the 2013 fall season, the Wyoming Cowgirl Desert Intercollegiate, at the Classic Club Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12 and 13. Heading into the tournament, the Eagles will be led by sophomore Marissa Borja, who carries a fall-season scoring average of 76.9 strokes per round through three tournaments.

"We've had some decent scores this fall despite horrible conditions, so I'm looking forward to finally having some good weather," head coach Brenda Howe said. "I'm expecting some good scores this weekend."

Both Borja and junior transfer Taylor Crandall will be playing close to home in their final outing this fall. Both players hail from the southern California area.

"I expect Taylor and Marissa to post some low scores," Howe added. "Both of them are from the area and should be comfortable playing on a desert-style course."

Incidentally, the pair owns the two lowest scoring averages on the team across their three other tournaments this season--Crandall's is an even 80.0--so the stars might be aligning for a great season-ender for Eastern. The team as a whole has averaged just over 315 strokes per round so far this season, which is more than six strokes per round lower than its average at this point in 2012.

Borja and Dodge are the only golfers returning from last season's tournament team that placed 19th. Borja finished tied for 64th, while Dodge ended the weekend tied for 98th.

The Cowgirl Desert Intercollegiate will also serve as a bit of a Big Sky Conference preview just in time for winter, as six other conference squads are slated to compete in the two-day event. Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah and Weber State will all make the trip this weekend.

The 6,112-yard, Par 72 course will be taken on by golfers from 20 teams in all, with both days kicking off at 7:30 a.m. with a shotgun start. The field will play two rounds of 18 holes on Saturday and one final round of 18 on Sunday.